Program Details

SEPT 2025 dates are Sunday, July 6th- Friday,  July 11th

With a heavy dose of the latest and greatest science and engineering research delivered by MIT researchers and lecturers, SEPT uniquely reaches teachers through a drink of knowledge from the MIT "firehose."  The program captures a snapshot of MIT and delivers it to teachers for one week every summer. 

A typical week of SEPT: 

  • Daily lectures from MIT scientists on new frontiers in science and engineering research

  • Hands-on workshops with Lego DNA, computer games and simulations, and technology developed at MIT

  • Tours of labs and demonstrations led by MIT scientists

  • Additional exposure to MIT K-12 initiatives for students and teachers

  • Community-building among the outstanding group of teachers for which SEPT is known

It has always been a goal of SEPT to keep each year's class size small to ensure that each participant gets the most out of his or her experience.  SEPT offers a high faculty-student ratio, with a class size between 50-60 and expanding each year.

Thanks to a generous donation by an MIT alumnus, we are excited to expand our reach with the number of teachers that participate in SEPT, as well as to diversify our programming. We’re pleased to announce that for the 2020 SEPT Class, we are offering three tracks. All tracks will participate in the same morning lectures given by MIT professors. Afternoon sessions will vary based on which track teachers choose and will be a mix of workshops, experiences, and discussions.

Track 1: "Broadening Participation in STEM" 

  • This track will support teachers in their acquisition of skills needed to coach and encourage student populations that have been traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields.
  • Afternoon programming will consist of workshops, reflections, and discussions focused on increasing and maintaining participation in STEM for women, students with disabilities, ethnic and racial minorities, and other underserved communities.

Track 2: "Use and Design of Games and Simulations"

  • This track will inform teachers in the use and design of games and simulations, of use in classrooms to support both systems learning and computational literacy.
  • Afternoon sessions will include introductions and use of existing and in-development tools, simulations, and games, as well as workshops in game design and game programming. (Prior knowledge of programming and computer science is NOT required).

Registration fee:

The tuition for the week is $2,400.00 per participant. Course registration covers:

  • Lodging on campus in double-occupancy MIT dormitory housing

  • Coffee, and MIT Tech Cash to purchase lunches and snacks during the event (also including one night with activity and dinner)

  • Course handouts and all other materials related to the program

It is the participant's responsibility to seek funding. If a participant is sponsored, she or he must indicate the sponsor's name, organization, and contact information on the application.

Upon completion: CEU's and PDP's are subject to change for the virtual SEPT.

For completion of the 40-hour program, participants will receive equivalent professional credit in the form of 4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or 40 Professional Development Points (PDPs) from MIT. The program is not graded, therefore graduate credit is not offered.

A certificate of completion will be provided at the end of the week for successful participation in the program.